What is a diagnostic assessment for specific learning difficulties?
A diagnostic assessment provides a detailed picture of the individual’s strengths and difficulties, and can confirm a diagnosis of specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia.
Why have a diagnostic assessment?
Many individuals find a diagnostic assessment helps them to better understand their strengths and the difficulties that they face.
A diagnostic assessment report can help parents, teachers and employers to understand an individual’s strengths and areas of difficulty.
Parents, teachers and employers can use the diagnostic report to gain an understanding of the best ways to support the individual on a day-to-day basis.
A diagnostic report can be used to apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) for students going on to study at university.
What is involved in a diagnostic assessment?
The process for assessment starts by making contact with an assessor via email or phone. This initial contact should help to answer any questions or queries you have about the process.
Once a booking has been confirmed, and a consent form has been signed by the individual being assessed, the process of gathering background information will start. This usually consists of background questionnaires for the individual and sometimes family members and teachers or course tutors. These background questionnaires help to build a picture of the individual being assessed ahead of the assessment.
On the day of assessment, a range of tests that measure different skills will be undertaken. The tests are not pass or fail; they each measure a different ability or skill and will be scored after the assessment session. Each test helps the assessor to build a further picture of skills and any difficulties that are faced.
Following the assessment session, the tests will be marked and the information from the background questionnaires and discussions and observations from the assessment session will be gathered together in writing to reach a diagnostic conclusion.
A full diagnostic report that details all of the above and which includes a range of recommendations about how to support the individual in an educational or workplace context, as well as in their day-to-day life will be received. Diagnostic reports can also include information about other organisations or signpost further assessments for specific learning difficulties, if required.
How long does the process take?
Gathering information in preparation for the assessment takes around 1-2 hours.
The assessment session itself takes around 3.5-4 hours.
Written reports will be sent within 4 weeks of the assessment.
Further information can be found below:
Dyslexia Diagnostic Assessment – British Dyslexia Association (bdadyslexia.org.uk)